AUDITION NOTICE: JEFFREY

ActOut Theatre Group

Jeffrey by Paul Rudnick
Director: Sherry Jackson Thompson

Performance Dates: October 2-3 and 9-11

Rehearsals will begin on Wednesday, August 5. 

AUDITION DATES & LOCATION

• Dates: Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026
• Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Both days)
• Location: Farish Theater (Central Library, 140 E Main St, Lexington, KY 40507)
• Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script 

PRODUCTION & CASTING POLICY

We are seeking a vibrant, diverse, and fearless ensemble to bring Paul Rudnick’s hilarious and deeply moving comedy to life. All ethnicities, racial backgrounds, gender identities, and body types are encouraged to audition.

Please note: Listed ages are baseline character approximations. Actual casting is highly flexible and completely dependent on finding the right chemistry, energy, and balance for the full ensemble. 

Click here to fill out an audition form

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN PRINCIPAL ROLES

JEFFREY (Male-identifying, 20s–30s): An aspiring actor working as a New York cater-waiter. Terrified of love and loss during the peak of the AIDS epidemic, he vows to become completely celibate. He is witty, deeply anxious, and charming. This role is the emotional anchor of the play.

STEVE (Male-identifying, 20's - 30's) A handsome, confident bartender and gym regular who pursues Jeffrey. He is HIV-positive but completely defined by his joy, resilience, and passion for living. Must be grounded and inherently charismatic. 

STERLING (Male-identifying, 40s–50s): Jeffrey’s fiercely loyal friend. A high-end, highly successful Manhattan interior decorator. Sterling is flamboyant, unapologetic, and armed with blistering one-liners, but holds a profound capacity for grief and a massive heart. Requires brilliant comedic timing.

DARIUS (Male-identifying): Sterling’s younger boyfriend. A sweet, optimistic, and gloriously uninhibited dancer in the Broadway production of Cats. Even while facing advanced illness, his spirit remains entirely unshakeable.

ENSEMBLE / MULTI-ROLE TRACKS

Serling highly versatile character actors to play a dizzying, fast-paced array of satirical and grounded cameo roles.

ENSEMBLE TRACK 1 (Female-identifying, 30s–50s): Plays all female cameos. Roles include a superficial Manhattan socialite, a flamboyant Televangelist; and Jeffrey’s well-meaning Mother.

ENSEMBLE TRACK 2 (Male-identifying, 20s–40s): Cameos include Skip Winkley (a tacky, pastel-suit-wearing morning talk show host) and Angelique (a fierce, proud pre-op trans lesbian activist).

ENSEMBLE TRACK 3 (Male-identifying, 20s–40s): Cameos include Father Dan (a highly unorthodox, sexually liberated Catholic priest) and various gym-goers.

ENSEMBLE TRACK 4 (Male-identifying, 20s–40s): Cameos include a Show-tune-loving Thug who sings mid-mugging, a Newscaster, and a healthcare worker.